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நெஞ்சொடு புலத்தல்: Expostulation with Oneself
About this chapter
நெஞ்சொடு புலத்தல், expostulation with oneself (literally "sulking with the heart"), is a companion to chapter 125. There the wife (தலைவி) talked to her heart. Here she scolds it for going over to her husband's side.
Kural 1291 begins the complaint: the heart has seen that his heart is his own, so why does it not stand by her? Kural 1292 says that it runs to him though he does not love her, as if he would not mind. Kural 1293 guesses at the heart's reasoning, that the ruined have no friends, and so it follows him at its own pleasure. Kural 1294 reminds the heart that it would not first sulk and then yield as advised, so who will take counsel with it again? Kural 1295 describes the state of the heart in a single line: it fears when she is without him, and fears to lose him when she has him. Kural 1296 says her heart eats her up when she is alone, and Kural 1297 that she has forgotten even modesty, in the hands of a foolish heart that cannot forget him. Kural 1298 says the heart clings to him because it fears disgrace in disdaining him. Kurals 1299 and 1300 close with the central sorrow: who can help in distress when one's own heart refuses, and how can strangers act as kin when it behaves as a stranger?
Kural 1300 is the one to read for its summing up.
The 10 kurals of நெஞ்சொடு புலத்தல்
Each kural is shown in Tamil with a transliteration and G. U. Pope's English verse translation. Open a kural for its plain English meaning.
அவர்நெஞ்சு அவர்க்காதல் கண்டும் எவன்நெஞ்சே
நீஎமக்கு ஆகா தது.
Avarnenju Avarkkaadhal Kantum Evannenje
Neeemakku Aakaa Thadhu
You see his heart is his aloneO heart, why not be all my own
உறாஅ தவர்க்கண்ட கண்ணும் அவரைச்
செறாஅரெனச் சேறியென் நெஞ்சு.
Uraaa Thavarkkanta Kannum Avaraich
Cheraaarenach Cheriyen Nenju
'Tis plain, my heart, that he 's estranged from thee; Why go to him as though he were not enemy
கெட்டார்க்கு நட்டார்இல் என்பதோ நெஞ்சேநீ
பெட்டாங்கு அவர்பின் செலல்.
Kettaarkku Nattaaril Enpadho Nenjenee
Pettaangu Avarpin Selal
'The ruined have no friends, 'they say; and so, my heart, To follow him, at thy desire, from me thou dost depart
இனிஅன்ன நின்னொடு சூழ்வார்யார் நெஞ்சே
துனிசெய்து துவ்வாய்காண் மற்று.
Inianna Ninnotu Soozhvaaryaar Nenje
Thuniseydhu Thuvvaaikaan Matru
'See, thou first show offended pride, and then submit,' I bade; Henceforth such council who will share with thee my heart
பெறாஅமை அஞ்சும் பெறின்பிரிவு அஞ்சும்
அறாஅ இடும்பைத்தென் நெஞ்சு.
Peraaamai Anjum Perinpirivu Anjum
Araaa Itumpaiththen Nenju
I fear I shall not gain, I fear to lose him when I gain; And thus my heart endures unceasing pain
தனியே இருந்து நினைத்தக்கால் என்னைத்
தினிய இருந்ததென் நெஞ்சு.
Thaniye Irundhu Ninaiththakkaal Ennaith
Thiniya Irundhadhen Nenju
My heart consumes me when I ponder lone, And all my lover's cruelty bemoan
நாணும் மறந்தேன் அவர்மறக் கல்லாஎன்
மாணா மடநெஞ்சிற் பட்டு.
Naanum Marandhen Avarmarak Kallaaen
Maanaa Matanenjir Pattu
Fall'n 'neath the sway of this ignoble foolish heart, Which will not him forget, I have forgotten shame
எள்ளின் இளிவாம்என்று எண்ணி அவர்திறம்
உள்ளும் உயிர்க்காதல் நெஞ்சு.
Ellin Ilivaamendru Enni Avardhiram
Ullum Uyirkkaadhal Nenju
If I contemn him, then disgrace awaits me evermore; My soul that seeks to live his virtues numbers o'er
துன்பத்திற்கு யாரே துணையாவார் தாமுடைய
நெஞ்சந் துணையல் வழி.
Thunpaththirku Yaare Thunaiyaavaar Thaamutaiya
Nenjan Thunaiyal Vazhi
And who will aid me in my hour of grief, If my own heart comes not to my relief
தஞ்சம் தமரல்லர் ஏதிலார் தாமுடைய
நெஞ்சம் தமரல் வழி.
Thanjam Thamarallar Edhilaar Thaamutaiya
Nenjam Thamaral Vazhi
A trifle is unfriendliness by aliens shown, When our own heart itself is not our own
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